Deployable flatbed for pickup truck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9511803-B2
Application number	US-201514643236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A number of variations may include a flatbed comprising a bed, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first wall, the second wall, and the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product comprising:
a flatbed comprising a bed comprising a lower surface, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first wall, the second wall, and the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall; and
wherein the first wall further comprises a first tongue running the length of the first wall, the second wall furthers comprises a second tongue running the length of the second wall, and the lower surface of the bed defines a plurality of grooves wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wall, the second surface of the second wall, and the upper surface of the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall wherein the first tongue lies within a first groove of the plurality of grooves and the second tongue lies within a second groove of the plurality of grooves.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bed defines at least a. first cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least first cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the first cavity.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wall defines at least a second cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least second cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the second cavity.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second wall defines at least a third cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least third cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the third cavity.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wall comprises a first surface, the second wall comprises a second surface, and wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wall, the second surface of the second wall, and an upper surface of the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall.

6. A product comprising:
a flatbed comprising a bed, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first wall, the second wall, and the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall:
wherein the first wall comprises a first surface, the second wall comprises a second surface, and wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wall, the second surface of the second wall, and an upper surface of the bed lie fiat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall; and
wherein the first wall comprises a first tongue running the length of the first wall, the second wall comprises a second tongue running the length of the second wall, and the bed comprises a lower surface defining a plurality of grooves wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first wall, the second wall, and the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall wherein the first tongue lies within a first groove of the plurality of grooves and the second tongue lies within a second groove of the plurality of grooves.

7. A product as set forth in claim I wherein the flatbed further comprises at least two raised wheel wells.

8. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a tailgate.

9. A product comprising:
a flatbed comprising a bed, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall wherein the bed comprises an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface comprising a plurality of grooves thereon, a first side, a second side, and a third side;
the first wall comprises a first tongue running the length of the first wall and a first surface and is hingedly attached to the first side of the bed and is constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wall and the upper surface of the bed lie flat and horizontally adjacent to one another;
the second wall comprises a second tongue running the length of the second wall and a second surface and is hingedly attached to the second side of the bed and is constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the second surface of the second wall and the upper surface of the bed lie flat and horizontally adjacent to one another; and
the third wall is fixed to the third side of the bed.

10. A product comprising;
a flatbed comprising a bed, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall wherein the bed comprises an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first side, a second side, and a third side;
wherein the first wall comprises a first surface and is hingedly attached to the first side of the bed and is constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wall and the upper surface of the bed lie flat and horizontally adjacent to one another;
wherein the second wall comprises a second surface and is hingedly attached to the second side of the bed and is constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the second surface of the second wall and the upper surface of the bed lie flat and horizontally adjacent to one another;
wherein the third wall is fixed to the third side of the bed; and
wherein the first wall further comprises a first tongue running the length of the first wall, the second wall furthers comprises a second tongue running the length of the second wall, and the lower surface of the bed defines a plurality of grooves wherein the first wall and second wall are hingedly attached to the bed and are constructed and arranged to swing relative to the bed such that the first surface of the first wail, the second surface of the second wall, and the upper surface of the bed lie flat to define an enlarged upper surface of the bed, first wall, and second wall wherein the first tongue lies within a first groove of the plurality of grooves and the second tongue lies within a second groove of the plurality of grooves.

11. A product as set forth in claim 9 wherein the flatbed further comprises at least two raised wheel wells on the upper surface.

12. A product as set forth in claim 9 wherein the bed further defines at least a first cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least first cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the first cavity.

13. A product as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first wall defines at least a second cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least second cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the second cavity and wherein the second wall defines at least a third cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least third cavity and is constructed and arranged to extend from the third cavity.

14. A product as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first wall defines at least a second cavity and wherein an extendable ramp is disposed within the at least second cavity and is constructed and arranged to ext

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wassell Scott P
• Anderson Scott C

Classifications

• B62D33/03 Primary

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60P1/02

  with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element (in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 {; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157}) · CPC title

• B60P1/435

  the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle · CPC title